FLORENCE: A Casa Grande man and two Mexican men were arrested Friday morning in Stanfield after law enforcement officers discovered over 80 pounds of marijuana in their vehicle.
A deputy of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office stopped a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser for a traffic violation at the Circle K at Stanfield Road and Arizona 84.
After the vehicle stopped, two men reportedly fled the vehicle and ran south.
Deputies later found the two men near an airfield in Stanfield. U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified them as Mexican natives David Gonzales-Bautista, 34, and Jesus De La Cruz-Barrera, 29.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Erik Thomas, 25, of Casa Grande. Thomas was placed under arrest after a deputy found 81 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle and a Kenwood portable radio.
“Pinal County continues to be one of the most active counties in all of America for drug and human smuggling because of our roadways and terrain,” Sheriff Paul Babeu said in a press release.
“Our Anti-Smuggling Enforcement Unit, our Regional Narcotics Task Force and patrol deputies will continue to disrupt these smuggling efforts as much as possible,” Babeu added.
A Sheriff’s Office spokesman said Friday’s incident had no connection with a similar arrest made earlier last week in Stanfield. Two Casa Grande men were arrested by deputies Wednesday for transporting 77 pounds of marijuana on Interstate 8 near Arizona 84.
The three men in Friday’s incident were booked into the Pinal County jail on three separate charges: possession of marijuana, transportation of marijuana for sale and possession of marijuana for sale.
Thomas, the driver, was previously charged with marijuana possession in 2014. He had an outstanding warrant issued on that charged through Casa Grande Justice Court.
